Disability News Japan Podcast: ‘Assist Mats’ Begin to Appear in 7-11 Branches in Japan

By Barrier Free Japan

March 6 2024

JAPAN – At some branches of 7-11, as you walk up to pay, you might see this mat, stuck to the counter. The mat has images with writing underneath, the writing is in Japanese & English and below the images it reads: ‘Buy Coffee’, ‘Buy Plastic Bag’, ‘Chopsticks’, ‘Fork’, ‘Spoon’, ‘Warm Up Microwave’, ‘Yes’ & ‘No’.

The mat is intended to help people with difficulties communicating, especially d/Deaf people and people with hearing impairments, when attempting to tell the 7-11 staff what they want to buy.

Episode Notes: ‘‘Assist Mats’ Begin to Appear in Branches of 7-11 in Japan’ https://barrierfreejapan.com/2024/03/04/assist-mats-begin-to-appear-in-branches-of-7-11-in-japan/